2 siblings drown in septic tank on Easter Sunday

CEBU, Philippines — Two siblings, ages six and seven, drowned Sunday morning after they slipped into a septic tank while playing in Sitio Sayaw Laray, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.

Police identified the fatalities as Nathaniel Llamedo and his younger brother Mark Emman Llamedo.

Police Lt. Col. Randy Caballes, chief of Talisay City Police Office, said the victims were playing at an open space in their neighborhood when they accidentally fell into a 10-foot deep hole of an ongoing septic tank construction in the area.

Caballes said they were told the siblings would have wanted to wash from the water gathered in the sump when the tragic accident happened. Cousins playing with the victims tried to help by grabbing their hands to prevent them from falling into the pit but all efforts were futile.

Police are looking into possible criminal liability of the parents for being negligent as well as the owner of the septic tank. Caballes said the owner of the ongoing construction should not have left the excavation open to prevent accident. — Correspondent/FPL (FREEMAN)